Since its creation, the Puerta del Sol has been subjected to numerous renovations, particularly in the last few decades. It is curious to observe how, with time, the same urban landscape and the same street outline can change so much in terms of aspect and main elements.

As well as the attractions that our city has to offer, its location in the heart of Spain makes it the ideal place to visit other beautiful cities that are located nearby.

Today we propose seven short day trips from Madrid that last less than a whole day. Medieval cities, ancient city walls, monuments and natural landscapes just a few hours away. You can leave in the morning and get back to our hotel for dinnertime and then go and enjoy Madrid’s nightlife

Fortunately, Madrid is excellently communicated which means that getting to our hotel on public transport is easy. If you are going to stay in the city for a few days and you were planning on getting around on public transport, we recommend that you check the rates of the multi-day tickets, that cover 1 to 7 days of unlimited transport.

Located in the heart of Madrid, between Plaza del Callao and the Puerta del Sol, tens of thousands of people walk through Calle Preciados every day. This is perhaps the busiest shopping street in the centre of Madrid and also the most expensive one: it occupies the #5 spot in the world ranking of streets with the highest rent price and it is located just fifty yards from our hotel.

However, few know the origin of its name. The street pays tribute to the Preciado brothers, who were beloved by the people of Madrid thanks to their excellent work as civil servants.

Our history goes back many centuries, back to 1490, when there was still a royal country house in this area that the monarchs used for leisure and recreation.

1) Puente Segovia

The oldest bridge that crosses the Manzanares river, dating back to the period of King Felipe II. The king ordered one of favourite engineers to carry out the job, Don Juan de Herrera, who he also entrusted with other constructions such as the monastery of El Escorial and the palace of Aranjuez, among many others.

It is made of granite and characterizes itself for the semi-circular arch that decreases in size the further it goes away from the centre, with the two ends being the smallest.

2) Puente de Toledo

Its semi-circular arches and row of balconies are its most characteristic trait, producing a magical effect in the evenings and when the night falls as they reflect in the river’s waters. Of churrigueresque Baroque style, it was built between 1718 and 1732 by the architect Pedro de Ribera.

3) Puente de los Franceses

Its original name was not this one but the locals ended up giving it its current one due to the nationality of its builders. It was built by the French in approximately 1860 in bricks and granite, with the aim of giving the railway an access to the city.

4) Puente de la Reina Victoria

Built in the early 20th century, this reinforced-concrete bridge with Modernist touches owes its name to Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg. Queen Victoria, granddaughter of the famous British queen of the same name, reigned between 1906 and 1931 as the consort of King Alfonso XIII.

5) Twin bridges: Matadero and Invernadero

These are two identical bridges that cross Madrid Río and lead to the old Madrid slaughterhouse, today a cultural space where we can visit art exhibitions and see shows. They are built out of concrete and their vaults have been decorated with mosaics by Daniel Canogar.